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L. HOPCRAFT. SELF FEEDING FURNACE GRATE.

No. 404,706. Patented June' l, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEHVIS HOPCRXF'F, OF STAMFORD HILL, COUNT Y OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

SELF-FEEDING FU RNACE-G RATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 404,706, dated June 4, 1889. Application filed March 20, 1889. Serial No. 303,967. (No model.) Patented in England November 22, 1886, No. 15,135-

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS HOPCRAFT, engineer, of No. Bethune Road, Stamford Hill, in the countyof Middlesex, England, a subj eet 5 of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Self- Feeding, Self-Stokin g, and Self-Cleaning Furnace Fire-Grates, (for which I have received Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 15,135, dated November 22, 1886,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in constructing furnace fire-grates of a circular flat form of castiron or other suitable material, having the necessary spaces for the air to pass through to the fuel placed thereon. The center of the grate is formed with a tube of suitable material and size, passing from the surface of the grate downward to a hopper for containing a supply of fuel. The said tube contains a worm-creeper for conveying or elevating fuel placed in the hopper to the surface of the grate. The combined arrangement of grate, tube, and elevating-gear is so constructed that it can be revolved and also tilted when necessary, to any desired angle. The furnacebars are in preference concentric rings approximately V-shaped.

To show more clearly how my invention is carried out, I furnish drawings, in which the same letters represent corresponding parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the arrangement adapted for an under-fired boiler, one side of the ash-pit being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan of grate. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a furnace-bar resting 011 radial arms. Fig. 4 is a front view of standards supporting the arrangement with the grate in a horizontal position. I

The furnace-bars A rest upon radial arms D in a slot 0, and are kept apart by lugs or distance-pieces B on the outer edge of every ring except the outermost. The innermost ring has lugs on each side, or the tube E, which occupies the center of the grate, has lugs on its outer circumference. The tubeE reaches to or-nearly to the level of the top surface of the bars. The radial arms D are secured to or made in one piece with the tubeE and rest upon or are fitted into a ring R, which oncircles but is not attached to the tube E.

This top ring R rests upon friction-wheels S, which preferably taper inward and run in slots of another encirclingring S. These friction-wheels S run on a lower ring T, which also encircles the tube E, but is not attached to it. On this lower ring T are trunnions U, supported on trunnion-bearings V of standards W, fixed in the bed of the ash-pit X. WVithin the tube E is an elevating-worm H, with shaft J, the top end of which shaft works in a bracket K, attached to the tube E. The whole arrangement of grate, tube, and elevating-worm can thus be tilted together on the trunnion-bearings V and adjusted and fixed to any desired angle by wedges, screws, or other well-known means. The tube E and grate can also be revolved on the ring T, and the worm H, with the shaft J, is capable of being revolved independently.

When in operation, the worm H and shaft J are turned so as to elevate the fuel placed on it, and the grate, with the tube E, is turned in the opposite direction. By this action the fuel, which is fed into the bottom of the tube E, is carried up by the worm H and delivered on the furnace-bars and distributed over the said bars.

Any convenient method of driving the apparatus may be employed, as well as any convenient method of feedingthe tube and worm with fuel. A suitable method of doing this is as follows:

To the lower end of the shaft J is attached a wheel L, driven by the worm M, which may be driven from any motive power by a band round a wheel attached to its shaft or axle. To this axle is also attached apinion N, driving directly or by intermediate gearing the toothed wheel 0, connected with the worm P,

driving the wheel Q, which is attached to the base of the tube E. The shaft J, when the apparatus is tilted, rests in a bearing 0 to steady it while in operation. At or near the base of the tube E are orifices G to allow the entrance of fresh fuel into E and onto the worm H.

B is a hopper surrounding the tube E, but not revolving with it. The hopper works in slots F on the standards V, so that when the arrangement is tilted the hopper is tilted also.

Y is the boiler, which in this case is underfired.

pose of feeding fuel to the furnace and distributin it over the grate, the WllOlG combination being". capable of being tilted and Worked at any desired angle.

LE\VIS I'IOPGRAFT.

"itnesses:

13. E. KNIGHT,

5-1 Fleet Street, London, E. C. \VALTE'R .l. SKERTEN,

17 Gracech'zwehStreet, London, E. C. 

